Sacramento vs Waco
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Sacramento
Waco
💡 The Verdict
Waco is 29% cheaper than Sacramento overall. A $75,000 salary in Sacramento is equivalent to $53,320 in Waco.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Sacramento (left) vs Waco (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Sacramento versus Waco. Differences shown from Sacramento perspective.
| Item | Sacramento | Waco | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,260/mo | $990/mo | +$270.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,700/mo | $1,270/mo | +$430.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $2,230/mo | $1,580/mo | +$650.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $3.03 | $2.32 | +$0.71 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.90 | $3.14 | +$0.76 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.22 | $2.69 | +$0.53 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.98 | $4.65 | +$1.33 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.55 | $2.98 | +$0.57 |
| Restaurant Meal | $20.36 | $14.92 | +$5.44 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Sacramento has the same purchasing power as $53,320 in Waco.
Conversely, $75,000 in Waco equals $105,495 in Sacramento.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $4651 difference is driven by California having a higher state income tax rate. California details → · Texas details →
Reading These Numbers: Sacramento (128) vs Waco (91)
Sacramento at 128 is 28% above the US average, while Waco at 91 is 9% below average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Sacramento, the composite index of 128 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 163, followed by groceries (104), utilities (108), transportation (111), and healthcare (106). Housing is the primary cost driver here.
For renters: With median rents of $1,700/mo in Sacramento and $1,270/mo in Waco, the annual rent difference is approximately $5,160.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $25,800.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $114,000.0 difference in median home prices between Sacramento and Waco translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Sacramento vs Waco
Choosing between Sacramento and Waco involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
Long-term affordability in Sacramento versus Waco depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.